Chapter 5: Invasion of Privacy

Types of invasion of privacy:• Intrusion on seclusion or solitude.• Public disclosure of embarrassing private

affairs.• Publicity that places individuals in a false light.• Appropriation of an individual’s name or

likeness for commercial advantage.

This chapter deals with various ethical violations of privacy.

The ethics of privacy• Decency and basic fairness• Topic must have redeeming social value• The individual’s dignity must be maintained even

with the disclosure

Chapter 5: Invasion of Privacy

Chapter 5 Cases

• Case 19: The Controversial Patriot Act

• Case 20: Privacy in Cyberspace

• Case 21: A Prostitute on Page 12

• Case 22: Dead Body Photo

Case 19: The Controversial Patriot Act

• Facts– Empirical Definition• Values• Loyalties• Principles

John Ashcroft and President Bush were staunch supporters of the USA PATRIOT Act.

The USA PATRIOT Act was created to avoid tragedies like September 11.

• Can the government tighten security without being so intrusive?

• Does the PATRIOT Act violate American rights? In what ways?

• Would you rather have your privacy or your safety?

Case 19: Additional links

USA PATRIOT Act – Read the entire act.Justice Department – A summary of what

the USA PATRIOT Act means to law enforcement and the courts.

Safe and Free – ACLU database of summaries, articles and analysis of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Civil Right Violations – Instances when the USA PATRIOT Act did not work.

Case 20: Privacy in Cyberspace

• Facts– Empirical Definition• Values• Loyalties• Principles

• How much about your past are you comfortable with being accessed?

• What personal information should be available to the public?

• Should private investigative services be regulated by law?

Case 20: Additional links

Private Detectives and Investigators – An official job description

Privacy Times – Learn more about right to privacy versus freedom of information

Investigative Resource Center – A starting point for online investigations

• Facts– Empirical Definition• Values• Loyalties• Principles

Case 21: A Prostitute on Page 12

?

In just this past decade, the media has sensationalized their coverage of the murders of Jonbenet Ramsey, Nichole Simpson, and the White House sex scandal.

• Identify the golden mean of news value for a community and the privacy of those personally involved.

• If one applied the agape principle, what would be considered morally appropriate behavior?

• Why should victims of circumstance endure punishment through a sensational account?

Case 21: Additional links

Missoulian – Read the paper involved.Changing the Way Violence is Reported –

Studies on the effects of sensationalized reporting on readers

Junk Food News – An article about telling the truth without sensationalism.

Public Service or Soap Opera? – A judge decides how many details of the Peterson murder case the public needs to know.

• Facts– Empirical Definition• Values• Loyalties• Principles

Case 22: Dead Body Photo

Scanned photo here

News photographs of people mourning over 9/11, a plane crash, and the Columbine shooting.

• Are photos of dead bodies cautionary of morbid?

• What is the decent level of publicity for a tragedy?

• Should the victim and/or the victim’s family have the ultimate say?

Case 22: Additional links

Californian – Read the paper that ran the picture.

Code of Ethics – The ASNE requirements for photojournalists

Ethics in Photojournalism – One man was dismissed for improper editing of photos.